Hemis Monastery is the biggest monastery in Ladakh. A short drive of 45 km from Leh it is located atop a hill. The several prayer halls, a museum, as well as the library are accessible to the visitors.

Photograph by Chetan Karkhanis

The senior monks leads the afternoon prayers at Hemis monastery, the biggest monastery in the whole of Ladakh.

The senior monks leads the afternoon prayers at Hemis monastery, the biggest monastery in the whole of Ladakh.

Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, India

Meet Shri Tsering Wangdus. He is a Padmashri award winner, the fourth highest civilian award given by the Government of India. He teaches in an art school in Ladakh. We met him and his students at Hemis Monastery, the biggest monastery in Ladakh. Mr. Wangdus and his students were making art pieces on the walls of the Hemis monastery. This was the first time we had met a Padmashri awardee. To see the master practicing his art was a privileged moment.

Students of Shri Tsering Wangdus, a Padmashri award winner, the fourth highest civilian award given by the Government of India. They were painting the walls of the Hemis monastery. This was the first time we had met a Padmashri awardee. To see the master practicing his art was a privileged moment.

Prayer Wheels Hemis Monastery, Ladakh, India

These prayer wheels are a feature of every monastery in Ladakh. Touching each wheel, turning them around while chanting a prayer is the first thing devotees do after entering a monastery.

The Shanti Stupa is an iconic structure in Leh. Atop a hill climbing 500 steps, reaching here by foot requires a lot of effort. Specially because of the high altitude. On the top, it is a place for breathtaking views, some peace and quiet, meditation and prayers.

The Shanti Stupa is an iconic structure in Leh. Atop a hill climbing 500 steps, reaching here by foot requires a lot of effort. Specially because of the high altitude. On the top, it is a place for breathtaking views, some peace and quiet, meditation and prayers.

Aerial view of Leh from Shanti Stupa in Ladakh, India

Aerial view of Leh from Shanti Stupa in Ladakh, India

The greenery in Leh makes us forget that Ladakh is actually a cold desert. The trees are are a result of water harvesting efforts put in by the locals.

Landscapes en route Tso Moriri, a mountain lake in Ladakh, India

Rocks carved with Tibetan scriptures are an important part of the Buddhist culture. They are usually found around monasteries. We saw this rock on our way to Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

This was at the outskirts of Korzok, the base village for Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake, 250 km from Leh. Summer is the time when the people of Ladakh prepare for the harsh snow clad winter. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

We usually get so engrossed in taking photos, we hardly at all take our own picture. This exotic location however made us change our mind. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

We usually get so engrossed in taking photos, we hardly at all take our own picture. This exotic location however made us change our mind. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

We usually get so engrossed in taking photos, we hardly at all take our own picture. This exotic location however made us change our mind. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

These barley fields separate the village Korzok, the base village for Tso Moriri from the lake itself. Tso Moriri is a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

These barley fields separate the village Korzok, the base village for Tso Moriri from the lake itself. Tso Moriri is a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

These barley fields separate the village Korzok, the base village for Tso Moriri from the lake itself. Tso Moriri is a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

These barley fields separate the village Korzok, the base village for Tso Moriri from the lake itself. Tso Moriri is a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

For most part of the drive to Tso Moriri we were negotiating ups and downs through the mountains. Suddenly we hit this vast flatland. It was hard to imagine you are at a height of 4500m. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

For most part of the drive to Tso Moriri we were negotiating ups and downs through the mountains. Suddenly we hit this vast flatland. It was hard to imagine you are at a height of 4500m. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

Breath taking beauty deserves one of its kind commute.
People working near the out-of-this-world-stunning Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh can not travel to work like you and I.
Buses and trains won't do for them. Rakes of bulldozers will! Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

Breath taking beauty deserves one of its kind commute.
People working near the out-of-this-world-stunning Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh can not travel to work like you and I.
Buses and trains won't do for them. Rakes of bulldozers will! Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

For most part of the drive to Tso Moriri we were negotiating ups and downs through the mountains. Suddenly we hit this vast flatland. It was hard to imagine you are at a height of 4500m. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

A typical high altitude Himalayan scene: Barley fields, white mud houses surrounded by the barren mountains.
Out here, living in sync with nature is not a choice but the only way, life is possible. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

This is the bridge at a village called Mahe. The bridge leads to Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. Going straight ahead leads to Pangong Tso, another lake. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

On the way to Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh, we had the first glimpse of the famous purple mountains of Ladakh! Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

We saw many unfinished bridges on our way to Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. What we also saw, were purple mountains. Yeah, that's right, purple! Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.

We saw her on our way to Tso Moriri, a high altitude mountain lake in Ladakh. She was basking in the sun, readying for the harsh winters of Ladakh, creating beautiful patterns on a shawl she was weaving on a traditional wooden loom. Read about our visit to Tso Moriri at
Mystical magical Tso Moriri lake in Ladakh.